Final answer:
The first slaves arrived in North America in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. This marked the beginning of the institution of slavery in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first slaves arrived in North America in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. A group of 20 Africans were brought by Dutch traders and remained under the ambiguous legal status of 'unfree.' This marked the beginning of the institution of slavery in America, which would spread across the continent over the next two centuries.